Flagg thrives with all-around game for No. 7 Duke in college debut against his home-state program

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Flagg felt nerves and excitement ahead of his highly anticipated regular-season debut for No. 7 Duke in its famed Cameron Indoor Stadium. Coming out of the tunnel to see the opponent wearing the jersey of his home-state program — one with long ties to his family — added a little extra feeling.

The nation's No. 1-ranked recruit and preseason Associated Press All-American had 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and one flashy dunk to help the Blue Devils beat Maine 96-62 on Monday night.

It came against a program where his mother played basketball, where the Newport, Maine, native went to games while he was growing up about 30 minutes away from the campus. And where his brother Ace — who was sitting behind the Black Bears bench while their parents sat behind the Duke sideline — will play next year.

“I think even for me, it was a little more emotional walking out seeing the Maine across their chest,” Cooper Flagg said. “Obviously, that’s a team that I grew up watching when I was young. Seeing them gave me a lot more emotions and knowing it was the first real game. It was definitely a high-emotion game for me, but I was able to just take it in stride and handle business.”